Byron Jones and Landon Collins

[darthseinfeld]

Free Safeties with range and man coverage skills that are not a liability against the run are difficult to find.

Similarly a strong safety with the range to play both positions. Collins is a great player, but take him out of the box and have him play single high and he is a different player. The number of players that can do either at a high level are pretty much down to two. Eric Berry and Earl Thomas

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Hence my description of Collins:


Having said that, I'm really interested to hear your opinion of how Collins stacks up against Jones in coverage...especially man coverage.

They are 2 different safeties. Collins is a in the box SS who struggled at times in coverage but is getting better. Jones is a FS that is much better in coverage but is getting better at attacking close to the line like we seen in preseason.

Jones was a CB that moved to safety and going into his 2nd full year at the position.

Collins was a safety playing safety and wasn't very good at times his rookie year. Last year was his 2nd year and he made the jump playing much better. I expect Jones to do the same

 

[GusTheo]

And even if Collins is better 10 years from now, that still doesn't make Jones a bust, not even close!!

I think people forget what our secondary has looked like the past 15 years.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

And even if Collins is better 10 years from now, that still doesn't make Jones a bust, not even close!!

I think people forget what our secondary has looked like the past 15 years.

Sensabaugh was a Saint. A Saint, ya' hear me!

 

[rkell87]

I agree, Collins is, was, and pretty much always has been the better player. I get what we are trying to do here, I believe our method has the ability to sustain a high level of success over the long term. Throw out the second round; our philosophy appears to be one that misses small and hits big.

Jones/Collins is a small miss and everything about jones fits our team as a culture better except for being a slightly inferior player. He serves a role and he is very good at that role, and I'm not sure Collins would preform better than jones in reversed roles.


I'm not sure people have realized it yet but we have quietly assembled the most talented defense the Cowboys have had in a long time. It's 90%+ home grown and hand selected for our system at this point. We should start seeing the dividends similar to when we invested in the Oline and then paired it with a talented RB; because we already had big money at QB and WR. All of the sudden we look really solid up the middle, and young but talented on the outside, great position to be in with a lot of potential.

Every time we've had a middle of the pack or better defense this offensive system has done really well regardless of who was calling the plays. I believe we are capable of at least that, middle of the pack is our floor with injuries imo. We have the best offense since the 90's and a good, talented, well coached, and fit for the system defense for the first time in forever. It's going to be fun.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Two different positions with two different responsibilities. Collins plays more in the box and when he's not, he's playing more bracket coverage. Byron plays a ton of man coverage or is the lone deep safety. Collins can't play man like Byron can and Byron can't play in the box as effectively as Collins can.

I would say that Collins is the better player, but both are very good and both have their weaknesses. Hopefully with Heath at the other safety spot we won't be so limited at the SS spot in coverage as we were with Church and that will allow us to use Byron in more favorable positions on the field.



YR

 

[Doomsay]

Jones hasn't shown much. He looks to be even worse when paired with Heath. No instincts, should feel like he is playing for his job at this point.

 

[waving monkey]

We picked Jones in the first round. Giants picked Collins in the second round pick number 1.
Jones was a corner which we turned to safety and Collins was a safety and plays that position for the giants in the NFL. They both play pretty good. Collins around the line of scrimmage and Jones spend most of his time covering TE's one on one or the deep part of the field.

I would of love to had been able to get Collins in the 2nd round. Heck I would of traded our 2nd and 3rd rounder for him.....of course with hindsight being 20/20 lol. Randy Gregory and Chaz Green for Landon Collins is a no brainer so far.

Lets hope Heath can make us proud. I'm actually intrigued with Xavier Woods though. He impressed me vs the Rams. Too bad he was injured and didn't play no more in preseason. But he is back healthy and seem to play with instincts.

I'm fine with Jones but Woods will take a safety position over next year.

 

[Doomsay]

That wasn't busted coverage. We were playing zone--and he respected his zone. That's on the passrush. If you play zone and give AR time, he's going to beat it.

Collins is on another level, but it's not realistic to hold Jones to those standards just because Collins was picked after him. Let's put it this way: If Taco turns into the Byron Jones of DEs, we'll all be very happy with him.

The entire league missed on Landon Collins. If anyone realized how good he was going to be, he'd have gone top 5.

Bad analysis and bad awareness by Jones on that play, watch it again and again.

 

[Aven8]

Well didn't JG have all the insight on Collins from his old buddy Saban?? Just saying......

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

I'm not much for talking heads but Woodson's take on Jones was basically my assessment as well. He knows more about playing safety than pretty much everyone you'll hear and he had Byron as the defensive MVP.


As good as Collins played in terms of making plays he still had some substantial issues in coverage. Teams that can isolate him can still work him over pretty well. He'll get his too but it's a trade off.

Not only are their positions different but their schemes are basically polar opposites and I think some of the fan response to his play is tied up in frustration with the type of defense Marinelli plays since Jones is both a reason for playing that way as well as a victim to it's drawbacks.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Sensabaugh was a Saint. A Saint, ya' hear me!

I played against him in high school. He was really good on an insane team. Fun fact they beat us even though Witten went off for like 200 yards in the first half and now Gerald coaches against Jason's brother who coaches our old high school.

 

[phildadon86]

Everyone here likes this comparison. This guy as a rookie called out Romo and Witten. Witten scored the game winner against him....what say you to the? Oh it was one play. Well. The argument is the Jared cook catch. That's also one play...soooooo now what?

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Everyone here likes this comparison. This guy as a rookie called out Romo and Witten. Witten scored the game winner against him....what say you to the? Oh it was one play. Well. The argument is the Jared cook catch. That's also one play...soooooo now what?

This one?

 

[CowboyStar88]

Where did I say pass rush once?

Just surrounded by premiere talent.

Usually when people refer to money they're talking about passrush

 

[LocimusPrime]

I'm sorry I just can't forgive him for his busted plays. The biggest being the 3rd and 20 to a no name TE in the freaking playoffs last year. Landon Collins bats that ball down or picks it off.

Jones has zero awareness on the field. Zero. He is a gym rat in a football uniform. Collins is a freaking football player.

You can't even compare the two players. Collins will end up going to at least 4-5 pro bowls.

 

[dwreck27]

They would have looked great together side by side....

But they play two different roles so pick which one you want more.... a cover guy or a guy that makes plays from the line of scrimmage

In my opinion I feel that finding in the box safety's easier to find that guys that can cover and aren't complete liability

 

[LocimusPrime]

We didn't reach. The league was simply wrong about Collins.

I think he is the best defensive player in the division. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone who comes close.

I've always wanted Collins. He's my boy. People underestimated him, and I'm glad he's proving them wrong

 

[LocimusPrime]

My man "holding" Gronk lol lol. Let me chunk you to the grown with my right arm and throttle Wilcox to the ground with 4 fingers

Jk. Gronk is a beast. He isn't an easy cover for anyone

 

[erod]

They play different positions.

But Collins is better at his position than Jones is at his.